HANDS

While visiting Jen in San Diego I found in her bathroom this handsoap and on it it told all these amazing things that we can use our hands for. a great reminder ! Had to blog it!
What a sweet reminder and on a soap dispenser!

Grateful Hands
Friendly Hands
Clean Hnds
Praying hands
Loving Hands
Giving hands
Strong hands
Helping hands
Kind hands
Willing hands
Caring hands
Joyful hands

My Favorite Song sung by my daughter Leslie

A picture of Baby Jesus represent a seed of hope and longing for the day that you might plant his promise into your heart, and deliver yourself to him. But please, please remember, that every second of every minute of every hour of every day, people like you and I find out that we have no promise of tomorrow. So, let a picture of Baby Jesus inspire you to action! And perhaps as you look at this picture, the seed will be planted in your heart and you will look at it knowing that Jesus grew up and yes , became your Savior and mine and of all mankind!

The most beautiful song ever!!

" SONG-HOLY CHILD IMMANUEL" lyrics and music by Mildred West Wiseman

Holy Child close to my heart, I guard you from all danger; Prince of Peace and Light of Life, Here cradled in a manger. Holy Child Immanuel, A miracle of wonder, Did you hear the angels sing in glory strong as thunder? Did the shepherds really see the star not like any other? Did it lead them here to find this Holy Child and Mother? Holy Child here in my arms, The long awaited Savior, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, A gift of loving favor; Holy Child, a joy sublime, More blessed than any other, Will the people understand that you're their Elder Brother? Will they know you are the Son of God, Begotten of the Father? Can they know the hope I feel as your adoring Mother?

The tv show called "Keeping up Appearances"

This is a show on tv that is pretty funny! Dad watches it off and on and gets a real kick out of how this lady tries to hid the fact that in her family there are people she would not want it to be known that they are part of her family. ha! They are British actors. She runs into some mighty strange situations and always her husband can't understand her. Try to tune in and watch it sometime. You might just enjoy it! and yes you just might relize, hey! there is all kinds of personalities that do indeed make up a family! Would we have it any other way? he he! The lady that plays Hyacinth Bucket ( prefers last name to be called bouquet) continues to try to find ways to climb the social ladder. so funny!

The Temple/the House of the Lord here on earth

In these sacred Holy Temples we have the privilege of connecting families together for time and eternity. the work is being done for those who have passed on before us. We connect the long line of our descendants. What we offer can only be found in this church. In these sacred temples of " The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." the names of your loved ones who have passed on will be "spoken" and they will know they have not been forgotten. Here holy ordinances will be done in there behalf. Each family member will be added to the chain of their progenity, and as Malachi said " And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. He wants families to be together. But you say some might not want this, well they may think different one day but each will have the opportunity.
another passage says , otherwise all is wasted at his coming, We all will be connected in a long line as our hearts turn to our ancestors. As we take their name through they will be united to their families once again! what a great moment that will be!! Maybe not you say, but yes, many many will be excited and have been waiting for this special moment!! Its being taken care of on this end as well as on the other side, all will be connected. Just think about it, there is a plan!

Things said and done in my day

We would say your " smack dab in the middle"
Would say "ly down with dogs and you'll rise up with fleas,
Heard say Use it all, wear it out , make it do or do without!
Heard say "my dogs are barking which ment your feet hurt"
We used some of the following: bobby pins, safety pins, fly swatter, to curl hair made rag rollers, washed in metal tubs, used underarm shields? We would wear saddle shoes, they were black & white. ladies wore girdles, had bob haircuts , some dances were the jitterbug, went to sock hops, fox trot, two step, and the polka. Those were the good old days! more to come!

Did you say seven?

I often see people's faces light up when I say I have seven children.
One day saw this cartoon in the paper and thought thats me. ha. I made a copy of it and changed the kids looks some by putting long hair on some to make it appear as five girls and two boys. It had this quote:

How can you divide your love between so many children?
answer : I don't divide it , I multiply it!

Yes we have a huge family and yes I love each one and yes they all come from the same marriage. Yes you can have a large family and spread that love around to go to all. Will post a picture here soon of all seven of my children and yes there is enough love to go around to all, yes you just multiply it!

Some favorite show's of dad's but nothing, no

nothing compares to how much he loves America and watching the series of World War 2 !
World War Two and then some other shows he enjoys watching still today.

More of the things he is Crazy about:
Any and Every "World War 2" movie or documentary
"Welcome Back Kotter"
"WKRP"
"Amos' and Andy"
Edward R. Murrow
plus the song" There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of dover" by Dorothy Hermann/ tomorrow just you wait and see. Sung by her during that time period. Wow does he tear up watching those service men coming home!

Pets through the years

In the growing up years the kids had lots of pets. Jen really had the most. Some of them were: a gerbil, turtle, aquna, fish, a bird but we left the cat inside one Sunday because she was going to have a baby and when we got back from church we found bird feathers everywhere!! POOR PIPPIN. I just can imagine how hard she tried to get away from that cat. He must have knocked the cage down and she came flying out! Wow! It was off and flying for our little pippin. Guess the cat was just being a cat. Enough, on to better times. As a family we also had dogs. Charlie,Misty, Prince, Rags, Scruffy and a couple cats who were called Puff and Princess. I think one of our cats was Max at first and later finding out he was a she we called her Maxine.
WE NEVER HAD A RED ROOSTER THOUGH. haha!

Love this picture

I saw this picture at Old Time Pottery years ago and it reminded me so much of my three girls...
LESLIE,STACEY,and JENNY

Just had to have it! It has hung on the wall of my home every since!!

My girls were adorable! Now they are no longer little girls. Will add a picture of the three of them here as they look today.

Leslie and her two little guys

Leslie is a single mom with two cute little guys. Soran is four and Ander is two. Soran looks like his father and Ander looks just like Leslie . Proud of you Leslie and the great job you
are doing with your little guys!

Aidan's Birthday Party

Well here we are at Aidan's 3rd Birthday Party . Gosh did we ever have a fun time. Aroon found this place here in Eustis and it was great! Everyone had a wonderful time. It was out in country with red looking barn and animals and zip line, a maze to go into and all kinds of fun. It was the best party ever! Just had to post this picture of us as we prepared to go on the zipline. I had a hard time letting go , just unnatual to jump out into thin air. ha. Had a picnic and of course a cake and just a really nice day of it. tks. Aroon and Stace.
This was the best day we have enjoyed for a very long time. It was wonderful! We can't think of when we have enjoyed ourselves so much. We all brought food and ate under a pavilion and all the buildings were bright red with white trim. For sure I felt like I was at the Red Rooster Farm. It looked like something out of a colorful magazine. Will be posting pictures here soon. mama

Scout's Party

click on the picture to get a good look at these funny monsters!

These are all the monster faces Angie cut out and glued onto T-shirts to give each child at Scouties Birthday Party. I was so impressed! she certainly goes out

of her way to make each and every Birthday Party special for her boys. Here I thought I was doing something special just coming up with a cake when my kids were small. ha. they were to cute just had to post them! Happy Birthday Scouty!

The Gerber Family! (love this picture)

Aidan

Here is Aidan when he was
just a little new born. Stacey didn't get to take him home for some days because he was sick. She can tell you this story, too long to post here.

Here is the other baby[ Lexi ], Stacey's dog she has had since before she was married.
She saw her through her hard teenage yrs.
Lexi what a sweet and devoted dog!

Just look how small Lexi was back then. How sweet!


Remember those
days Stacey?

The Achareker Family

Life is forever changing and their will be happy times as well as sad!
This past month or so has found us in sad times . The Achareker Family whom our daughter Stacey married into will no longer be a big part of our lives. Yes, we will always stay in touch and yes we will celebrate special occasions together but it will never be quite the same again. Anytime a marriage doesn't make it , it affects the whole family to some degree. Stacey has made this decision to move on in her life and I am sure it was not a easy decision. We love her and we will continue to love and support her. I feel certain she has felt some degree of pain in coming to this decision. There is a quote that says "we can love our child but not always their acions. " so it is. Life will go on. Stacey has chosen another path to seek out what she feels is missing in her life. As hard as it might be people have to live their own lives even though we don't understand! We will always feel the void of this broken marriage. However we do wish Aroon and Stacey much happiness ! The kids have given us our grandson Aidan, whom we love very much. He is three years old, full of energy and he will continue to keep us all connected through the years and we want the Achareker family to know that they have become dear to us and we will never forget them!

Garage Sale

Well my garage sale is over! sooo glad. Really had a hard time getting into it. Years ago Donna and I had them every few months. It was exciting !! I would bring my kids to her place and we would make a day of it. She lives on a corner of a very busy street so we would get lots of people stopping by, we would joke and laugh and try are hardest to get them to buy something they didn't even need. ha. We would make a day of it / have lunch together and the kids would play. Those were the good old days as they say. Well anyway I wanted a new dishwasher, old one was not doing the job so dad said if I came up with half he would pay the other half. So I got started cleaning out my closets a good month before and Donna and Frankie said they would donate stuff so they cleaned out their closet as well. Finally after a while I had enough and the big day finally arrived. Got up around 6 AM on Friday and started setting up and since wanted to start at eight I had to go have my signs up by seven. Well it was slow starting out but later picked up and little by little my money started adding up. I decided if I hit my goal of one hundred dollars that I would not have it the next day. YES!! One day was enough for me ," TOO HOT" and I still had three hours to go!! Have to admit it was not all that fun. Something was missing?? I was no longer that young energetic person I was thirty years ago! ha. it didn't help that dad kept saying ," you have a customer. " I refused to stand out in that heat! Knew right away I wasn't in for having it a second day. ha. Around here they do Friday and Sat. for G. Sales. Tomorrow was Sat. and for sure those not working would be out in droves looking for that one thing they can't live without. ha! I had set my goal for a hundred dollars and met it. Now not sure what day exactly that my daughter Jenny called , thinking day of sale but she wanted to give me thirty dollars towards my dishw.. Wow, I was soooo excited. that put me over the top and now I wouldn't have to worry about meeting my goal or having it a second day. ha. Gosh Jen, that was so sweet of you! Now whenever I look at my new dishwasher or load it I will remember your kindness. tks. soooo much Jenny! My new dishwasher will be delivered on Monday . Ya!
However, I do believe my garage sale days are over!! ha ha.

Precious Beginnings

Valerie , Randy, Angie, Todd, Leslie, Stacey and Jenny

Was watching one of those baby shows and watching how excited the couple were when they saw the ultrasound.
From that second you dream of gazing into your baby's eyes and holding him or her in your arms. You see his tiny fingers and toes and how he or she will be so dependent on you for their needs. How special those early moments of watching this little person grow inside you. I was always so happy when I was pregnant. So eager and couldn't wait to wrap my arms around the new baby. I still enjoy holding a baby , just something special about it!
What a miracle of wonder!

You bond as a family right away when we see that little one growing inside. Thats the moment you know you are a family. Right then you want to make a home , a place where they will find comfort, love and each caring for one another. Your sweet home , a special place where your little one joins your family.
A prophet once said : "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

This is no coincidence. God organized us into families for a good reason and thats so that we can grow up in happiness and safety, and so that we can learn to love selflessly— thats what its all about, learning to love, serve and give. what better place to do this than in a loving home.

Within the family is the best place to learn to love others!

"Families Come First"